What is etravirine?
Etravirine is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.
Etravirine is used with other medications to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Etravirine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Etravirine is usually given after other antiviral drugs have been tried without successful treatment of HIV.
Etravirine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about etravirine?
In rare cases, etravirine can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.
Etravirine must be taken in combination with other HIV medications. However, there are certain combinations of medicines that should not be used together with etravirine. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
There are many other medicines that can interact with etravirine, or make it less effective. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.
Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking etravirine?
You should not take etravirine if you are allergic to it.
To make sure you can safely take etravirine, tell your doctor if you have any liver disease, including hepatitis B or C.
Etravirine must be taken in combination with other HIV medications. However, there are certain combinations of medicines that should not be used together with etravirine. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
You SHOULD NOT take etravirine together with:
delavirdine (Rescriptor);
efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla);
nevirapine (Viramune);
rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifapentine (Priftin), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);
St. John's wort;
atazanavir (Reyataz) given with ritonavir (Norvir);
fosamprenavir (Lexiva) given with ritonavir (Norvir);
tipranavir (Aptivus) given with ritonavir (Norvir);
ritonavir (Norvir) in doses of more than 600 milligrams twice daily; or
seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Solfoton), or carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol).
You MUST take etravirine together with ritonavir if you are also taking:
indinavir (Crixivan); or
nelfinavir (Viracept).
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of etravirine on the baby.
Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.